Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-13


little strip of brown rock rs viewed from
Palenville proved to be great precipice
that took steady nerves to approach and
peer over, and mile below the scattered
town looked like toy village. Round
was Just opposite and separated from US
by the tremendous tree clad chasm OF
Kaaterskiu Glove. Away to the east
stretched the Hudson valley, dim in the
waning light The full moon shone white
upon it and turned the winding river ten
miles away into silver ribbon. In the
west the sky was still red and the mount
aims bulks stood out black against the
crimson 1t was superb scene, still l
did not forget that we had several miles
of wild forest and mountain path between
us and supper. l think l mentioned this
at the time and, if memory holds its own,
believe the remark was considered in
congruous and out of all keeping with the
panorama before us. Still we started
down.
The downward path is always easy. At
times the way was very dark, but in the
openings the moon shone brightly. We
took the path we missed in going up and
/ congratulated myself that it led us
down quickly and did away with the
necessity of passing the quarry, as we
would have had to do if we kept the road.
The rough quarrymen were continually
in my mind, and many man in ambush
had turned out to be an innocent stump
or rock. l had more money in my posses
sion than newspaper man is generally
supposed to have and l was completely
unarmed had just begun to think my
fears groundless when the path came to
the road again. had walked ahead all
the way down. AS | came out on the
road my heart stood still. A few rods
further down a man was standing in the
middle of the road apparently listening
intently The moon shone full on him.
Fortunately i had not stepped out into
the light went cautiously up the path
bit and said in whisper: Don't be
alarmed, there is a man on the road
below
"A quarryman"
81 think So"
"Well?"
"Well, don't know exactly what to
do"
''They can't mean any harm. They
must be we'll known in the neighbor-
hood"
There are shanties up at the quarry.
don't see what the man would be doing
down here. He seems to be listening"
We both went carefully down to the
road The man still stood in the moon
light. Another man stepped from the
shadow of the woods.
Hear 'em, JOeT
Thought / did little while since.
Don't know"
You'll see it's as told you. They're
gone down long ago"
Don't believe it. They couldn't have
passed US without seeing EN-
The two men sat down by the roadside
and one struck match and lit his pipe.
We were evidently in for siege. l sat
down on a rock that seemed dangerously
loose but there was no chance of seeking
a securer place. The swapping of twig
would betray us.
'There seems to. be only two of Them"
l whispered. ~ believe it would be a
good plan to take tkem by surprise.
could work carefully along above them,
and brain one of them with stone, prob
ably both of them if / had good luck"
A woman is always against extreme
measures. l knew the plan was good
one but foolishly spared their lives. The
next instant it was too late. The loose
rock on which l sat gave way, md l was
thrown on all tours into the middle of the
road. With startled cry both men
sprang forward.
"Are 20 hurt?n asked one. l jumped
to my feet and looked for my alpenstock.
eve were sure you would miss the
path, being strangers, as we thought
when you asked the way. We were just
going up to look for you. It's good
enough road in the day time but it's pizen
at night"
"'Tain't so much the danger of losing
your way" said the other, cor of falling
over as of spraining your ankle. F a
mans not used to the mountains he's
powerful apt to twist his foot comm
down. Where's the lady?''
The lady stepped down into the road.
sim sorry you took the trouble to wait
for u.s." she said.
"Uh, faint no trouble" answered the
quarryman, taking off his hat. You
see we live down at Palenville, and SO we
just sat down and mad a smoke
That is about all there is to tell. We
found them very efficient and courteous
guides, and they would take nothing for
their services.-Luke Sharp in Detroit
Free Press.